On August 2nd, Chinese artist 蔡徐坤 Cai Xu Kun, famously known as KUN, helmed his sold-out first-ever U.S. headlining show, ”KUN: ONE NIGHT ONLY” at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, CA. We got up close and personal to view the unforgettable performance, which doubled as a celebration with fans in honor of his 27th birthday and introduced the next stage in his solo career.
Celebrations were in order leading up to the show as fans lined up on both sides of the theatre, while a truck circled passing by with videos of the artist saying, ‘’Happy Birthday, Kun!’’ and an accompanying themed boba truck.
This show was intimate for the global pop star as phones and mobile device usage was prohibited to focus on the music and vibe of the night. A majority of fans were drenched in a blue glow, with some wearing light-up cat ear headbands and holding fan signs to show their adoration for the singer, producer, and fashion icon.
The show began with a big band arrangement on theme with the classic style the singer has been heavily inspired by, following the release of the single ‘’Deadman’’ which was released in May.
KUN stepped out dressed to the nines, or rather tens, in a stunning black suit with his hair slicked back, bringing us retro Vegas-style glitz and glam for the modern age in LA as he sang passionately, crooning into the night, starting with two new songs, ‘’What a Day’’ and ‘’Ordinary Love.
The set, lasting over an hour, showcased the artist’s impeccable versatility with his genre-defying discography ranging from Rock ‘n’ Roll, R&B, Ballads, Funk, and Soul. He didn’t shy away from performing earlier hits like ‘’Hard to Get’’ (2019). He dedicated a song for the men in the audience with the high-energy rock song “Ride or Die.”
KUN frequently spoke to the audience, talking about how excited he was to be in LA, a city he admires, and promised in his own words:
New music, new sound, new visuals, and new energy.’’
The last four songs performed were the standouts of the night. ‘’Remedy’’ and another new song, ‘’Washed Away,’’ gave us a glimpse into the artist’s vulnerable side, touching the audience as they swayed their arms with him.
“Jasmine” in particular blew me away as it was a Prince inspired jazz and funk song that was very sensual and romantic, showing the singer’s spicy side as he poured his soul into the mic channeling the spirit of the late royal rock star with his falsettos, as the color of the stage shined a hue of purple from the lights. This surprised me as his voice is generally deep compared to the amazing high notes he hit. Kun stated that he recently shot the music video for the new single, dropping August 8th in New York.
Before the encore, many fans were screaming out the name of his song “Deadman,” anxiously waiting to hear it, which soon became overshadowed by many singing ”Happy Birthday.”
For the encore, he gave the fans what they wanted as his one final song was his hit “Deadman.” This is the song that drew me to him instantly, as he sounded just as clear and composed as he did on the original recording, making this to me his signature song. During the song, Kun shouted out his band and backup singers, who throughout the entire show had great chemistry with each other.
The show concluded with bursts of confetti exploding on the audience while a three-tiered black cake was brought out with his name on top. He blew out the single candle as the crowd went wild.
Kun promised to return soon, leaving the fans with a night to remember. After this show, I combed through his whole discography, and he has now become an artist on my radar. Even though it was his birthday, I think the audience got the greatest gift of all.
